Alabama isn't a perfect team. Johnny Manziel and Texas A&M proved that. So did Georgia, which lost to Alabama, but still had the Tide's backs against the wall in the SEC championship game. Between now and the Jan. 7 BCS title game against Notre Dame, here are three things Alabama needs to work on:

Learn from the past: And by this, I mean, learn how to be more disciplined with a mobile quarterback.

The one thing that has given the Alabama defense problems over the last five years: a mobile quarterback. Tim Tebow, Cam Newton, Stephen Garcia, Johnny Manziel. This has happened too many times, ­ and Alabama has been exposed too many times ­ for this to be blown off as three incredible individual performances and one bad game (at South Carolina) by the Tide.

If that means being less aggressive in pass rush, then so be it.

The Tide must contain and keep Notre Dame quarterback Everett Golson in a box. Once he gets outside containment, his obvious weaknesses are minimized because of his ability to create on the run.

Don't give up on the run: If Notre Dame stops the Alabama run game early, the Tide can't go into full pass mode, and expect quarterback AJ McCarron to win the game with one game-breaking receiver (Amari Cooper) who likely will be double-covered the entire game.

Alabama ran the ball 31 times against Texas A&M, and threw it 34 times. For Alabama, at least, that balance of power has to change. If it doesn't, it will lead to another loss. The Tide offense works so well because its big offensive line wears on opponents and leads to a second half of big runs off broken tackles. It also helps that tailbacks Eddie Lacy and T.J. Yeldon are the two best things Alabama has going for it. Use them. Judiciously.

Don't feed into the noise: Over the next month, Alabama players will hear about how they can win a third national title in four years. About how they've built a dynasty.

About how they could be well on their way to four out of five national titles. And this, of course, is a dangerous area for a game that feeds on emotion and motivation.

Alabama lost three games in 2010 because it had a group of players who believed they would win instead or working to get there. Because it had a group of players who thought more about the future (the NFL), than dealing with the present.

This team has done an terrific job of staying focused all season, including after the Texas A&M loss. They can't lose sight of the prize now; can't start believing Notre Dame has no chance; can't start thinking about another ring.